Blackhawks Win: Crush Stars 8-1 [Video]

The Chicago Blackhawks won big over the Dallas Stars, in an 8-1 route on St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick Kane is no saint, but put up one of the sickest goals of the season on a spin-move midway through the third period.

The Blackhawks have proved to be the best team in the NHL this season after starting off with one of the longest point streaks in history, at 24-straight games before losing in regulation to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 8. The Blackhawks are 2-2-0 since their first regulation loss, but dominated on Sunday against the Stars.

Captain Jonathan Toews scored back-to-back goals within two minutes of each other to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 advantage early. Nick Leddy added his third goal of the season with just under three minutes left in the first period to bring the lead to three after one.

The Blackhawks only took nine shots in the second period, but scored three more times, including two goals by Marian Hossa. Chicago took a 6-0 lead into the final period, making things very easy for starting goaltender Corey Crawford.

Crawford made 18 saves on 19 shots Sunday for his 13th win of the season. Duncan Keith scored two minutes into the third period for the Blackhawks before the Stars’ Trevor Daly scored a powerplay goal to end Crawford’s shutout chance.

The ensuing goal by Patrick Kane to make it 8-1 Blackhawks will go down as one of the best during the 2013 season, and quite possibly one of the fanciest goals of all-time. If you missed it, here is a video of Kane’s 360-spin that turned into a backhand shot that beat Stars goaltender Richard Bachman, who replaced Kari Lehtonen midway through the second period.

As you can see, Kane knows how to score with style, and even received quite the ovation from the Stars’ fans in attendance. The game was well out-of-hand for the Stars at the time of Kane’s goal, so watching their own fans jump out of their seats and cheer for Kane was the icing on the cake.

The Dallas Stars have now lost four straight games and take on the Calgary Flames on Monday. The Flames have won both meetings with the Stars this season, though both teams sit near the bottom of the Western Conference.

The Blackhawks are on pace to become the first team to clinch a playoff spot as they currently have the best record in all of the NHL. Chicago will continue their four game road-trip in Colorado against the Avalanche Monday before a meeting with the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday.

Patrick Kane’s goal was the highlight of the blowout victory for the Blackhawks. Chicago has a commanding lead in the Central Division over the St. Louis Blues and show no signs of slowing down. The Blackhawks win over the Stars reassured the rest of the league that their point streak to begin the season was no fluke, and as long as they stay healthy there’s no telling how far they can go in the NHL playoffs.